Australian Open: Djokovic Advances to Second Round with Comeback Victory over Basavareddy

Melbourne, Jan 13 (NationPress) The remarkable 10-time champion Novak Djokovic fought back to overcome American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, ensuring his place in the second round of the Australian Open for the 18th consecutive time.

This match marked Djokovic's first victory under the guidance of his newly appointed coach Andy Murray. Throughout the match, the Serbian frequently looked towards the enthusiastic Murray in his coaching box, drawing on his energy.

In November of the previous year, the Serbian, who had been coached by Grand Slam champions Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic, announced that three-time Grand Slam winner and longtime rival Murray would take on the coaching role.

“Now it’s all business for us; I’m delighted to have him in my corner. It felt a bit unusual to have him sitting courtside in my box... We’ve faced each other for over two decades, and it’s wonderful to have him on my side of the net,” explained Djokovic regarding Murray.

“He provided me with excellent advice during the match. It’s fantastic that we can share feedback and let our coaches tell us what they observe. It’s been a fantastic experience (with Murray), and I hope we can continue this way,” he added.

Basavareddy displayed impressive movement on the court, successfully challenging the former World No. 1 during many extended rallies.

“For a set and a half, he was the superior player; he earned every bit of the applause he received. It was an excellent performance. Such match-ups can be tricky [and] dangerous. He had nothing to lose in his first Grand Slam match. He pleasantly surprised me with his shots right up until the end, and I wish him all the best in the future,” commented Djokovic about Basavareddy.

Djokovic, who is aiming for his 11th title in Melbourne, will continue his pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title against qualifier Jaime Faria, who previously dominated Pavel Kotov with a score of 6-1, 6-1, 7-5.

A victory in Melbourne would also cement Djokovic's position as the third player to achieve 100 tour-level titles, following Jimmy Connors (109) and Swiss legend Roger Federer (103).